At some point, you may suspect that your pool or spa has a leak. A change in the water level can be caused by a variety of things and is not always related to a leak. Heavy usage, a dramatic change in air temperature, turning on the pool’s heating system and human error can all lead to a change in water level. But so can a leak. At Shoreline Pools we have the experience and up-to-the-minute training that allows us to determine whether your pool is leaking, where the leak is and then ultimately fix it.

Have questions? Please review the FAQs on leaks below or contact us with any questions or to schedule a leak search.

I think my pool has a leak, but I’m not sure. How do I confirm it?
If you are losing four or more inches per day, your pool is likely leaking. If you’re not sure, try this simple “bucket test”:

Take a large bucket and a couple of bricks to your pool. Place the bricks in the bottom of the bucket. Place the bucket on the top step of your pool. If you don’t have a step, tie it to your ladder so it is half submerged. Fill the bucket, using the pool water, so that the water level in the bucket is equal to the water level in the pool. (You must use pool water and a 24-hour period without rain. If it rains, start the test over.)

Once the water in the bucket has settled, mark it with tape or a pencil or marker. Check the water level in the bucket after 12 – 24 hours. If the water levels in both the pool and the bucket are within a 1/4 inch of each other, a leak is unlikely. If the water level in the pool is more than 1/4 inch lower than the water in the bucket, a leak is likely.

Is there anything I can do to narrow the leak search process?

Yes. Collecting information is critical to finding leaks and can shorten the time it will take for us to detect and repair one. The first step is to check for obvious leaks. Check the area around the filter for any spots that remain wet all day. If your filtration has a waste line, check the end of it for any leaking water. Your filter runs an average of 8 – 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, so even small drips can add up substantially. If there are no obvious signs of leaking, try shutting off the filtration system for 24 hours and gauge if that causes any less or more water loss. Keep a log with this information, dating each entry. It can greatly assist our team’s effort in finding a leak and expedite the repair process. It also gives us a starting point in determining which other systems need to be checked.